BECK index

Lincoln’s Last Day

by Sanderson Beck

EXTERIOR WHITE HOUSE – DAWN

The sun has risen on the White House.

Super:

White House
April 14, 1865
Good Friday

INTERIOR LINCOLN BEDROOM – MORNING

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN has aged considerably and has lost thirty pounds. He and his wife MARY LINCOLN are still in bed, and a clock shows it is a few minutes before 7. Lincoln opens his eyes, looks around and notices the time. He starts to get up quietly, but Mary puts her arm over his chest to stop him.

MARY LINCOLN
Oh, don’t get up yet.

LINCOLN
Mother, you know I like to start work at 6.
It is nearly seven already.

MARY LINCOLN
My dear husband, the war is over.
Didn’t we start celebrating that yesterday?
Relax; you’ve earned it.
Tonight we are going to the theatre.

LINCOLN
I’m not sure I want to go.

MARY LINCOLN
But you promised me.
General Grant and his wife are going with us.

LINCOLN
Yes, I should go with the Grants. (Pause.)
I had that dream again.

MARY LINCOLN
What dream?

LINCOLN
The one that always portends a great event.

MARY LINCOLN
Was it the one where you wandered in the White House,
and someone told you that
an assassin had killed the President?

LINCOLN
No.

MARY LINCOLN
What could it be? The war is over.

LINCOLN
Not quite.
Johnston’s army still has not surrendered to Sherman.
That could happen any day now.

MARY LINCOLN
Be happy today!

LINCOLN
I think I am happier today than I have ever been. (Pause.)
Lamon and Stanton have warned me not to go out at night.

MARY LINCOLN
The war is over; you need not worry.

LINCOLN
I usually start working at six.
Today we have an important cabinet meeting
to talk about reconstruction, and Grant will be there.

MARY LINCOLN
Do what you have to do. I am going back to sleep.

Lincoln starts to get out of bed.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LINCOLN’S BEDROOM – MORNING

Lincoln has dressed and comes out of the bedroom. He sees the NIGHT GUARD sitting in the hall and walks by him.

LINCOLN
Good morning.

As he gets near his office, he sees SEVERAL MEN waiting to talk to him. They follow him and plead with him. One man grabs his arm, but Lincoln pulls his arm away.

LINCOLN
I am sorry. I cannot help you now.

Lincoln goes into his office and closes the door.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – MORNING

As Lincoln enters his large office, a soldier stands up at attention. Lincoln picks up some papers from his desk, sits at a table, puts on his glasses, and begins reading one of them.

INT. WHITE HOUSE DINING ROOM – 8 A.M.

Lincoln sits at one end of the table and Mary at the other with her son TAD LINCOLN, who is 12, on one side of her. They are eating breakfast. ROBERT LINCOLN who is 21 and dressed in his military uniform, walks in.

LINCOLN
Well, my son, you have returned safely from the front.

MARY LINCOLN
Oh Robert! You are home. I am so glad to see you!
Please sit here by me and have some breakfast.

She puts her hand on the table across from Tad, and he sits down there.

ROBERT LINCOLN
It has been an honor to serve on General Grant’s Staff.
I got to see his genius in the siege of Petersburg.

MARY LINCOLN
Tad, you are not to play outside this morning;
it is too cold.

LINCOLN
The war is now closed,
and we soon will live in peace
with the brave men that have been fighting against us.

Robert passes a photo of Lee to Lincoln, who puts on his glasses to examine it.

ROBERT LINCOLN
Father, I thought you might like
to see this picture of Robert E. Lee.
General Grant and he had such dignity
during the surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse.

LINCOLN
It is a good face.
I am glad the war is over at last.

MARY LINCOLN
I am so excited about seeing Laura Keene
in Our American Cousin tonight at Ford’s Theatre.
This is its last night.

LINCOLN
Good Friday is not a good night for the theatre,
but I suppose many will come out to see Grant.
Myself, I’d rather see a Shakespeare play.

MARY LINCOLN
Robert, you will come with us, won’t you?

ROBERT LINCOLN
I’m sorry, mother.
I’ve promised to spend the evening with friends.

MARY LINCOLN (Disappointed)
Oh. I can give you some tickets to Grover’s Theatre.

ROBERT LINCOLN
Thank you, if I don’t use them,
I will give them to my friends.

MARY LINCOLN
Father, will you have time
for our afternoon drive today?

LINCOLN
I don’t know; I hope so.
Excuse me; I have to go back to work now.

Lincoln gets up from the table and starts back toward his office.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – MORNING

Lincoln is sitting at his big desk reading newspapers. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House, comes in. Lincoln stands up and shakes his hand as he greets him.

Super:

COLFAX
Speaker of the US House of Representatives

LINCOLN
Mr. Speaker, I’m glad you came.

COLFAX
Mr. President, will you promise
not to lay down your postwar policy
until you have called a special session of the Congress?

LINCOLN
At the moment I have no intention
of calling a special session,
but if I change my mind,
I will give you sixty days notice.
I was wondering if you would consider
being a member of my cabinet.

COLFAX
Yes, I would.
I am leaving soon on an overland trip to California.

LINCOLN
Please tell the miners in Colorado
and on the western slope of the mountains
that they are contributing
to the great conquests of peace which are coming.

COLFAX
Yes, sir; I will do that.
Congressman Cole of California is waiting to see you
as are two others.

LINCOLN
I don’t have much more time now
because I have a cabinet meeting at eleven.

Colfax leaves, and Lincoln’s secretary JOHN HAY comes in.

HAY
Sir, two southerners are here,
and they are asking for passes to Richmond.

LINCOLN
No pass is necessary now to authorize anyone
to go to and return from Petersburg and Richmond.
People go and return as they did before the war.

HAY
I will tell them.
He goes out.

INT. OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF WAR STANTON – MORNING

Secretary of War EDWIN STANTON is meeting with GENERAL ULYSSES GRANT.

Super:

War Department
Secretary Stanton’s Office

GRANT
Mr. Secretary, for the past two days with your help
I have been working on a plan
to reduce our army to a peacetime level.

STANTON
General Grant, I think we agree on most things.
Newspapers today are reporting the end of the draft,
and we have also stopped all recruiting.

GRANT
Many contracts for munitions and supplies
can be cancelled right away.
We will need some troops to patrol the South.
Mr. Lincoln has invited me to the theatre tonight,
but my wife wants me
to go with her to visit our children.
I do not like public appearances.

STANTON
He invited me also, but I always decline.
All the cabinet members have declined.
You do not have to go.
The President can find someone else.
I have warned Lincoln
about appearing in pubic and in theatres.
I am concerned about what he will do next.
I stayed up most of the night
working on my proposals for the South.
Today is the anniversary of the attack on Fort Sumter
which is being commemorated in Charleston
where General Robert Anderson will raise the flag.

EXT. CHARLESTON HARBOR – MORNING

Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER is making a speech to a small crowd in view of Fort Sumter. They are celebrating the end of the war, and there are many ships in the bay.

Super:

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
Charleston Harbor

BEECHER
We raise our Father’s flag,
that it may bring back better blessings than those of old,
that it may win parted friends from their alienation,
inspire a new national life,
and make this people great and strong
for the peace of the world.
A small ruling class in the South led people
into a war to preserve the evil of slavery,
and many people have suffered the consequences.
I thank God who has sustained the life
of President Lincoln
under the unparalleled burdens
and sufferings of four bloody years,
and permitted him to behold this auspicious confirmation
of that national unity for which
he has waited with so much patience and fortitude
and for which he has labored
with such disinterested wisdom.

Union soldiers and a few others in the crowd politely applaud.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – MORNING

Lincoln is talking with New Hampshire’s ex-Senator JOHN P. HALE.

LINCOLN
Senator Hale, I’m glad you stopped by
before going to serve as the new Ambassador to Spain.

HALE
I am taking my daughter Bessie
to get her away from that actor John Wilkes Booth.

LINCOLN
Please keep informed the Assistant Secretary of State
Frederick Seward who is filling in for his father
after his severe injuries in a carriage accident.

They stand up and shake hands, and Hale goes out. JOHN A. J. CRESWELL comes in and is warmly greeted by Lincoln. They both take seats.

LINCOLN
Sir, you will always have my eternal gratitude
for preventing the state of Maryland from seceding.
My dear Cresswell, everything is bright this morning.
The war is over, and it has been a tough time;
but we have lived it out—or some of us have.
Now it is over, and we are going to have good times.
The country is united again.

CRESWELL
Mr. President, a friend went south
and joined the Confederate Army inadvertently.
He fell into the hands of the Union Army and is a prisoner.
I don’t think he intended any harm, but there it is.
I know he acted like a fool;
but he is a good fellow and my friend.
Please let him out; give him to me;
and I will be responsible for him.

LINCOLN
Cresswell, you make me think of a lot of young folks
who once started out Maying.
To reach their destination,
they had to cross a shallow stream,
and did so by means of an old flat boat.
When they came to return,
they found to their dismay
that the old scow had disappeared.
They were in sore trouble
and thought over all manner of devices
for getting over the water, but without avail.
After a time one of the boys proposed that
each fellow should pick up the girl he liked best
and wade over with her.
The masterly proposition was carried out,
until all that were left upon the island
was a little short chap
and a great, long, gothic-built elderly lady.
Now, Creswell, you are trying
to leave me in the same predicament.
You fellows are all getting your own friends
out of this scrape, and you will succeed
in carrying off one after another
until nobody but Jeff Davis and myself
will be left on the island,
and then I won’t know what to do.
How should I feel?
How should I look lugging him over?
I guess the way to avoid such an embarrassing situation
is to let them all out at once.

Dissolve to:

Lincoln is instructing a MESSENGER.

LINCOLN
I want you to go over to Ford’s Theatre
and tell the manager that the President requires
the state box for the evening performance
and that General Grant will be in the party.

MESSENGER
Yes, sir.

The messenger turns and goes out.

INT. HOUSE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MORNING

In an upstairs bedroom JEFFERSON DAVIS is meeting with GENERAL JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, GENERAL PIERRE G. T. BEAUREGARD, Secretary of War BRECKINRIDGE, Secretary of State BENJAMIN, Treasury Secretary TRENHOLM, and Navy Secretary MALLORY.

Super:

Greensboro, North Carolina

JEFFERSON DAVIS
Our late disasters are terrible,
but I do not think we should regard them as fatal.
I think we can whip the enemy yet,
if our people turn out.
Whatever can be done must be done at once.
We have not a day to lose.
We should like to have your views, General Johnston.

JOHNSTON
My views, sir, are that our people are tired of the war,
Feel themselves whipped, and will not fight.
We cannot place another large army in the field.
My men are daily deserting in large numbers.
Since Lee’s defeat they regard the war as at an end.
I shall expect to retain no man
beyond the by-road or cow-path that leads to his house.
We may perhaps obtain terms that we ought to accept.

Davis looks at the table as he folds and refolds a piece of paper.

JEFFERSON DAVIS
What do you say, General Beauregard?

BEAUREGARD
I concur in all General Johnston has said.

JOHNSTON
I believe we should write a letter
to General Sherman asking for terms
and that you should write it, Mr. President.

Davis looks at Beauregard intently.

BEAUREGARD
Yes, I think that would be best.

Davis looks at the four cabinet members.

JEFFERSON DAVIS
All those in favor of this?

The four cabinet members and the two generals all raise their hands.

JEFFERSON DAVIS
Then I will write the letter.

Dissolve to:

In the same bedroom Davis has written the letter to General Sherman that is in an envelope on the table. Now he is writing another letter to his wife. The camera shows what he has written so far:

Dear Winnie,
            I will come to you if I can. Everything is dark.
You should prepare for the worst.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE – MORNING

General Grant is approaching the White House surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers and hero-worshippers.

GRANT
Please, you must allow me to proceed.
I am going to an important meeting with the President.

Those near him give way, and he moves forward.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – MORNING

Lincoln is sitting at the head of the table near Attorney General JAMES SPEED with Treasury Secretary HUGH MCCULLOCH, Interior Secretary JOHN P. USHER, and Postmaster General WILLIAM DENNISON. As General Grant enters, Lincoln gets up and walks over to him to shake his hand while the cabinet applauds. Grant sits on the other side of Lincoln near the window, and they chat while the others also converse. Assistant Secretary of State FREDERICK SEWARD comes in followed by COL. HORACE PORTER. Frederick goes up to Lincoln.

FREDERICK SEWARD
Mr. President, my father is improving slowly.

Frederick steps aside to make way for Porter.

PORTER
Mr. President.

LINCOLN
You are welcome.

Porter takes a chair and sits near Grant but not at the table while Frederick joins the others at the table.

LINCOLN (Continued)
Assistant State Secretary Frederick Seward is filling in
for his father William who is recovering from a carriage accident.
General Grant, please tell us about Lee’s surrender.
What terms did you make for the common soldiers?

GRANT
I told them to go back to their homes and families,
and they would not be molested, if they did nothing more.

Navy Secretary GIDEON WELLES comes in breathing heavily after hurrying up the stairs to get there by 11. He finds a seat.

LINCOLN
Gentlemen, let us begin.
Is there any news from General Sherman?

GRANT
I just left the War Department, and there is nothing yet.

LINCOLN
I think there may be news today about Johnston’s surrender.
If I may engage your attention,
I would like to tell about a recurring dream I have had.

Secretary of War EDWIN STANTON with a portfolio full of papers bursts in and interrupts.

STANTON
I am sorry for being late.
I was hoping for a report from General Sherman,
but there is none.

Stanton begins pulling out sheafs of papers and passes them around the table so that each can take one.

LINCOLN
Today I would like to discuss reconstruction.

STANTON
If no one objects, I would like to announce
the end of the draft to the country.
I think this will boost morale
and help people to get back to work.

Lincoln and Stanton look at the others who either nod or remain impassive.

STANTON (Cont’d.)
For two days General Grant and I have been busy
cutting the size of the army and canceling army contracts
to save the nation large amounts of money.

LINCOLN
I think we all agree that the war is done,
and now I need your suggestions on
what procedure we are to follow regarding the South.

FREDERICK SEWARD
This morning my father and I discussed this,
and he asks the Cabinet to consider
ordering the Treasury Department to take control
of southern customs houses to collect revenues.
He also feels that we should garrison
or destroy all southern forts
and that Navy ships should occupy all southern ports
and take over their navy yards, ships, and ordnance.
The Interior Department should send out
agents and surveyors to assess southern lands.
We should reopen all post offices
and re-establish mail routes.
The Attorney General should appoint judges
and reopen the courts.
In sum he suggested that the United States Government
should resume business in the South
and make sure that private citizens
are not impeded in their tasks.

LINCOLN (Smiling)
The Secretary of State and his son have certainly presented
much that needs to be discussed at length.
I also think we must reanimate the states.
I am relieved that the Congress is not in session now
and is not due to meet again until December.
I do not intend to call for a special session.
First we must re-establish communications
between the South and North at once.

STANTON
I think we should empower the Treasury Department
to issue permits to all who want to trade.
The War Department could order southern ports
to receive all merchant ships.

WELLES
I think it would be better if the President proclaimed
the course to be pursued by each of the departments.

Stanton holds up a sheaf of papers.

STANTON
I ask the Cabinet to listen to the plan I have drafted
after a great deal of reflection
regarding reconstruction of the South.
Let me read the first part
which is on asserting Federal authority in Virginia.

As he is gets ready to do this, the others prepare to take notes.

Dissolve to:

WELLES
I would like to remind everyone that the state of Virginia
already has a skeleton government and a governor.

LINCOLN
That point is well taken.
Mr. Stanton, you may proceed to the second part.

Dissolve to:

SPEED
I think Stanton is seeking vengeance.
I prefer the compassionate approach of the President.

WELLES
Much of Stanton’s proposal is in conflict
with principles of self-government which I deem essential.

STANTON
I know this needs more work and more study.
I have done my best.

LINCOLN
I want each of you to deliberate on this carefully.
So far the sense of the Cabinet is that the best way
to act is to disenfranchise named leaders of the rebellion,
both political and military,
and leave the people of each state to choose other men.
Most agree that North Carolina and Virginia
should not be united under one government.
The war was fought to reunite the states,
not to remake them.
Please correct your proposal on that point.
We agree that it is desirable to have
as few judicial proceedings as possible.
Yet is it wise to let traitors go entirely unpunished?

SPEED
That could be a difficult problem if it should occur.

LINCOLN
We cannot undertake to run state governments
in all these southern states.
Their people must do that,
though I reckon that at first
some of them may do it badly.

A messenger enters the room timidly and receives hopeful looks as he hands the message to Lincoln.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
I am sorry. This is not about General Johnston.
Now I want to tell you about my recurring dream
because I think it means that
everything will turn out all right.

WELLES
What kind of a dream was it?

LINCOLN
It relates to your element, the water.
I seemed to be in some indescribable vessel,
and I was moving with great rapidity
toward an indefinite shore.
I had this dream preceding Sumter and Bull Run, Antietam,
Gettysburg, Stone River, Vicksburg, and Wilmington.

GRANT
Stone River was certainly no victory.
Nor can I think of any great results following it.

LINCOLN
That might be, but my dream did precede that fight.
It usually presages good news and great victories.
I had this strange dream again last night,
and we shall, judging from the past,
have great news very soon.
I think it must be from Sherman.
My thoughts are in that direction, as are most of yours.
I know of no other very important event
which is likely just now to occur.

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE – NOON

JOHN WILKES BOOTH is 27 and handsome with a thick brown mustache. He enters the three-story brick building.

INT. MANAGER’S OFFICE IN FORD’S THEATRE – NOON

Boothe steps into the office and greets the manager, HENRY CLAY FORD.

BOOTH
Hello Henry, I came to pick up my mail.

Booth finds a couple letters in his box and opens and begins reading one of them. The stage carpenter JAMES J. GIFFORD walks in and speaks to Ford.

GIFFORD
What do you want now, Mr. Ford?

HENRY FORD
President Lincoln and General Grant
will be coming to the theatre tonight.
Have stagehands remove the partition
between boxes 7 and 8.

Booth hides his surprise at the news and does not look up.

BOOTH
When did this news come?

HENRY FORD
Just a few minutes ago.
The President’s messenger said that
Lincoln and Grant will be attending with their wives.

BOOTH
Did you invite the President?

HENRY FORD
No, but I’m glad they are coming.
Usually Good Friday is a poor night for theatres.
This is Laura Keene’s last night.

Boothe nods and leaves.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NOON

Booth walks around the back of the dress circle and up steps of the side aisle and goes through the white doorway leading to the State Box corridor. He opens the door to Box 7 and sits down to watch the rehearsal on stage. He knows well the play, Our American Cousin, and sometimes mouths silently the words of the actors. LAURA KEENE and HARRY HAWK are rehearsing a scene from the third act.

KEENE
I am aware, Mr. Trenchard,
that you are not used to the manners of good society,
and that alone will excuse the impertinence
of which you have been guilty.

She flounces offstage.

HAWK
Don’t know the manners of good society, eh?
Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out,
old gal—you sockdologizing old man trap!

Booth stands up and examines the partition between boxes 7 and 8. Then he leaves the boxes and studies the doors to the small corridor.

EXT. 10TH STREET NEAR FORD’S THEATRE – AFTERNOON

JAMES R. FORD is in a buggy moving slowly with American flags, and he sees Booth walking. He pulls the reins to stop the horse.

JAMES FORD
Oh, Booth, how are you?

BOOTH
Fine. I just heard Grant and Lincoln are coming tonight.

JAMES FORD
Yes, the house is sure to sell out.

BOOTH
Did you get enough flags?

JAMES FORD
I asked Captain Jones for a 36-foot flag
that Treasury uses for special occasions,
but it was loaned out for the celebration.
I am going to ask the Washington Star
and the National Republican
to announce the presence of Grant and Lincoln.

BOOTH
I will try to attend if I can.

EXT. HOWARD’S STABLE ON 7TH STREET – AFTERNOON

Booth walks into the stable and instructs the STABLEMAN.

BOOTH
I want you to deliver my one-eyed roan
to the little stable behind Ford’s Theatre this afternoon.

STABLEMAN
Yes, sir, I’ll see to it.

BOOTH
Thank you. Here is the money for the feed bill.

Booth hands him some cash.

EXT. PUMPHREY’S STABLE NEAR THE MALL – AFTERNOON

Booth walks in and talks to PUMPHREY’S STABLEMAN.

BOOTH
I would like to use that sorrel I have been riding lately.

PUMPHREY’S STABLEMAN
That sorrel is out.
I have a fine roan mare for hire
that is fast but a little nervous.

The stableman brings her out and turns her around as Booth examines the horse.

BOOTH
She is a little skittish, but I like her.
Have her saddled at four o’clock.
I’ll be back.

PUMPHREY’S STABLEMAN
Yes, sir.

INT. KIRKWOOD HOUSE BAR – AFTERNOON

GEORGE ATZERODT wears the baggy-pants of a comic and is drinking at the bar and trying to get information from the BARTENDER.

ATZERODT
What room is Vice President Johnson in?

BARTENDER
I think it is on the first floor.

ATZERODT
Does he have a guard?

BARTENDER
I haven’t seen one.

ATZERODT
Can anyone knock on the door and chat with him?
He doesn’t carry firearms, does he?

BARTENDER
Why are you asking so many questions?
Why do you want to know all this?

ATZERODT
No reason.
Does the Vice President stay home at night,
or does he go out?
Do you think he is brave or a coward?

BARTENDER
I have heard he is a man of great courage.

Some men at the bar stare at Atzerodt suspiciously, and he smiles. Vice President ANDREW JOHNSON has entered the hotel and heads for his room.

BARTENDER (Cont’d.)
There is the man now; see for yourself.

INT. JOHNSON’S ROOM IN KIRKWOOD HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Andrew Johnson enters his room, takes off his jacket, and sits down to read a book.

INT. KIRKWOOD HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Atzerodt is carrying a bundle and goes up the stairs to his room. Inside his room he takes two large pistols out and puts them under the pillow on his bed, and then he puts a knife under the sheet. He leaves his room and goes down the stairs to the ROOM CLERK.

JOHNSON
Can you tell me
which is the Vice President’s room and where he is now?

ROOM CLERK
That is his room over there, and he just came in.

Atzerodt heads for the bar and orders whiskey, drinks it, and walks out of the hotel.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – AFTERNOON

In a montage Johnson leaves the hotel and walks up Pennsylvania Avenue. At the gate to the White House two soldiers snap to attention as Johnson walks by. A colored doorman lets him in the front door.

INT. WHITE HOUSE OUTSIDE LINCOLN’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

Johnson speaks to CROOK outside the door.

JOHNSON
May I see the President?

 CROOK
The Cabinet meeting is still going on, Mr. Vice President,
and the President has not had his lunch yet.

JOHNSON
That’s okay. I’ll stroll around until he is ready.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

The Cabinet meeting is continuing.

LINCOLN
What are we to do with the leaders of the Confederacy?

STANTON
As Americans I feel they were traitors to their country,
and I cannot see it any other way.

DENNISON
I suppose, Mr. President, that you would not be sorry
to have them escape out of the country?

LINCOLN
Well, I should not be sorry to have them out of the country,
but I should be for following them up pretty close,
to make sure of their going.
I think it is providential that this great rebellion
is crushed just as Congress has adjourned,
and there are none of the disturbing elements
of that body to hinder and embarrass us.
If we are wise and discreet, we shall animate the states
and get their governments in successful operation,
with order prevailing and the Union re-established
before Congress comes together in December.
I think we can accomplish more
without them than with them.
There are men in Congress who,
if their motives are good, are nevertheless impracticable,
and possess feelings of hate and vindictiveness.
I do not sympathize with those.
I hope that there will be no persecution,
no bloody work after the war is over.
No one need expect me to take any part
in hanging or killing these men, even the worst of them.

Lincoln raises both arms and flutters his fingers.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
Frighten them out of the country, open the gates,
let down the bars, scare them off;
enough lives have been sacrificed.
We must extinguish our resentments
if we expect harmony and reunion.
There is too much of a desire on the part
of some of our very good friends to be masters,
to interfere with and dictate to those states,
to treat the people not as fellow-citizens;
there is too little respect for their rights.
The Cabinet will meet again on Tuesday.

They begin getting up to leave and converse with each other.

GRANT
Thank you, Mr. President,
for letting me attend a Cabinet meeting.

LINCOLN
This was a very amicable session,
and I am glad you could be here.

GRANT
About the theatre party, sir,
Mrs. Grant wants to visit our children
and will be very disappointed if that is delayed again.
In fact she is taking the evening train to Philadelphia,
and I would like to go with her.

LINCOLN
Now there will be plenty of time
for you to spend with your children.
People will get great pleasure
from seeing the man who won the war.

Col. Porter hands Grant a message, and Grant reads it.

GRANT
It is from my wife.
She hopes I will not delay
our departure on the six o’clock train.

Grant hands the note to Lincoln who looks at it.

LINCOLN
I understand your decision.
I know how hard it is to deny the missus.

Lincoln goes over to McCulloch.

LINCOLN (Cont’d)
We must look to you, Mr. Secretary,
for the money to pay off the soldiers.

MCCULLOCH
You should look to the people, Mr. President.
They have not failed us thus far,
and I don’t think they will now.

Frederick Seward bows to Lincoln.

FREDERICK SEWARD
The new British Minister, Sir Frederick Bruce, is in Washington
and has been waiting to be presented to the President.
Would tomorrow be convenient for you?

LINCOLN
Tomorrow at two o’clock?

FREDERICK SEWARD
Yes, in the Blue Room?

LINCOLN
Yes, the Blue Room.
Don’t forget to send up the speeches beforehand.
I would like to look them over.

INT. WHITE HOUSE DINING ROOM – AFTERNOON

Lincoln and Mary are having a late lunch.

LINCOLN
Grant is not coming to the theatre tonight.

MARY
Oh, that’s too bad. Why not?

LINCOLN
He and his wife are eager to get home to see their children.
They are taking a train to Philadelphia.
I do not feel like going to the theatre tonight,
but I don’t want to disappoint so many people.

MARY
If neither you nor Grant were there,
they would be VERY disappointed.

INT. KIRKWOOD HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Booth comes in and goes up to the CLERK.

BOOTH
Is George Atzerodt in?

CLERK
No, he is out now.

Booth gets a drink at the bar and has an idea. He goes back to the clerk.

BOOTH
Is Vice President Johnson at home?

CLERK
No, sir, he is not.

BOOTH
Do you have a card so that I could write him a note.

The clerk finds a card and hands it to Booth who writes the following message:

Don’t wish to disturb you.
Are you at home?
J. Wilkes Booth

Booth goes upstairs and slides another note under the door of Atzerodt’s room.

INT. LEWIS POWELL’S ROOM IN HERNDON HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Booth is meeting with big LEWIS POWELL, young DAVID HEROLD, and Atzerodt.

BOOTH
Do you have everything you need?

LEWIS POWELL
I think so.

BOOTH
A horse will be waiting for me
at the little stable behind Ford’s Theatre.
Powell, you attack William Seward at 10:15 tonight
as that is when I will kill the President.
Herold, you can guide Powell to Seward’s home
and wait on the street with the horses.
Afterward lead Powell north on Madison Place
and then make two right turns
and go east to the Navy Yard Bridge.
That way pursuers may go in the wrong direction.
Atzerodt, you are to kill Vice President Johnson.
Timing is important; we each must strike at 10:15.
Powell, you should check out of your room.

HEROLD
I think we can get into Seward’s home more easily
if we say we have a prescription from his doctor Verdi.

BOOTH
That is a good idea. We will meet at the bridge.
I have written a letter to a newspaper
explaining our patriotic purpose,
and I added your names to mine.
Remember, we are all in this thing together.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

The clerk EDWARD D. NEILL, a former chaplain, is searching through papers on Lincoln’s desk when Lincoln enters through the open doorway while eating an apple. Neill looks up and tries to explain.

NEILL
I was just looking for the signed commission
you promised the colonel from Vermont.
I am sure you don’t mind.

Lincoln pulls the bell cord. Neill becomes nervous.

NEILL (Cont’d.)
For whom are you ringing?

 With a mischievous look in his eye Lincoln grabs the clerk’s lapel and leans over to speak in his ear.

LINCOLN
Andrew Johnson!

NEILL
I will come in again.

Neill quickly leaves the room.

Dissolve to:

Lincoln and Johnson are both seated.

LINCOLN
We had a good Cabinet meeting today on reconstruction.
I want to fill you in on what we have decided so far.

JOHNSON
I am very interested in that.

EXT. OUTER GATE TO THE WHITE HOUSE – AFTERNOON

The tall black woman NANCY BUSHROD who is suffering from hunger staggers up to the sentry box. The guards laugh at her but let her go on. She crosses the drive and enters the porch but is stopped at the large doors. She manages to get by two more guards.

INT. WHITE HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Nancy Bushrod runs through the corridor and climbs the stairs. She is breathing hard and crying as she speaks to Crook near Lincoln’s office.

NANCY BUSHROD
For God’s sake, please let me see Mr. Lincoln.

CROOK
Madame, the President is busy; he cannot see you.

She is sobbing loudly, and Lincoln opens his door.

LINCOLN
There is time for all who need me.
Let the good woman come in.

NANCY BUSHROD (Crying)
My name is Nancy Bushrod, and I have three babies.
My husband Tom and I were slaves
on the old Harwood plantation outside of Richmond.
When we heard about the Emancipation Proclamation
that made us free,
we ran away and came straight to Washington.
Tom enlisted in the Army of the Potomac,
and I live in a shack with twins and a baby.
His pay was coming every month, but then it stopped.
I have been looking for work,
but no one has any washing, sewing, or cleaning to do.
So many Negroes are looking for work in Washington.
Would you please help me get Tom’s pay?
I am my wit’s end.

LINCOLN
You are entitled to your husband’s pay.
Come this time tomorrow,
and the papers will be signed and ready for you.

NANCY BUSHROD
Thank you, sir.

She is crying as he escorts her to the door.

LINCOLN
My good woman, perhaps you will see many a day
when all the food in the house is a single loaf of bread.
Even so, give every child a slice
and send your children to school.

He bows to her and closes the door behind her.

INT. OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF WAR STANTON – AFTERNOON

Stanton’s assistant CHARLES DANA is handing Stanton a telegram, and Stanton reads it.

STANTON
Intelligence has learned that
the conspicuous secessionist Jacob Thompson,
who organized raids from Canada,
is on his way to Portland, Maine
where a steamer will take him to England.
Arrest the Confederate marauder!

Dana starts to leave, but Stanton calls him back

STANTON (Cont’d.)
No, wait; you had better go over and see the President.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

Lincoln is seated at his desk working as Dana comes in.

LINCOLN
Halloo, Dana! What’s up?

DANA
Well, sir, the Provost Marshal of Portland has reported
that Jacob Thompson is in that town today,
and he is planning to take a steamer to Liverpool.
The Provost inquires what orders we have to give.

LINCOLN
What does Stanton say?

DANA
He wants to arrest him,
but he thought he should refer the question to you.

LINCOLN
Well, no, I rather think not.
When you have an elephant by the hind leg,
and he’s trying to run away, it’s best to let him run.

EXT. PUMPHREY’S STABLE – AFTERNOON

A GROOM is cinching the saddle on the sorrel which tries to bite him. Booth examines the bridle and walks the mare in a circle while watching her feet. He mounts the horse, pulls a rein to turn her around, and rides off. He uses his spurs, and she runs.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – AFTERNOON

Booth turns on to Pennsylvania Avenue and slows his horse to a trot. On the other side of the street two Union regiments are marching into the city. Booth stops at E Street in front of Grover’s Theatre. He dismounts and cinches the horse to the hitching post. He goes into the building

INT. GROVER’S THEATRE – AFTERNOON

Booth sees that the manager’s office is empty. He goes upstairs to the tavern where DEERY is tending his bar.
BOOTH
Deery, give me a bottle of brandy and some water.

Deery opens a bottle and brings a pitcher of water and a glass. Booth pours himself some brandy and water, and he starts to drink.

DEERY
I have a box seat for you tonight, Booth.

BOOTH
I will pick up the tickets later.

When Booth finishes his last drink, he spins a coin on the bar and leaves. He goes downstairs to the empty manager’s office and sits down at the desk. He takes a piece of paper and an envelope from the pigeonholes. On the envelope he writes:

Editor, National Intelligencer

Dissolve to:

Booth is finishing the letter and signs it:

J. W. Booth—Powell—Atzerodt—Herold

He folds the letter and puts it in the envelope and the envelope in his pocket.

INT. WHITE HOUSE ENTRY-ROOM – AFTERNOON

Lincoln calls to his wife.

LINCOLN
Mother, I am going to the War Department for a while.
When I return, I will be ready for the drive.

She comes into the entry-room.

MARY
Would you like to invite some friends along?

LINCOLN
Just ourselves.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – AFTEROON

Lincoln and Crook are walking toward a group of people who are celebrating on the sidewalk while drunk. Crook moves ahead to clear a path for the President.

CROOK
Make way for the President.

The people get out of the way, and the two men walk past them.

LINCOLN
Do you know, Crook,
I believe there are men who want to take my life.
And I have no doubt they will do it.

CROOK
Why do you think so, Mr. President?

LINCOLN
Other men have been assassinated.

CROOK
I hope you are mistaken, Mr. President.

LINCOLN
I have perfect confidence in those who are around me.
In every one of you men.
I know no one could escape alive.
But if it is done, it is impossible to prevent it.

INT. STANTON’S OFFICE AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT – AFTERNOON

Lincoln enters the room and takes his favorite seat. Stanton is sitting at his desk. Lincoln smiles.

LINCOLN
Is there any news from General Sherman?

STANTON
I’ve been expecting it, but it hasn’t come.

LINCOLN
Grant has informed me that he and his wife
are going home to Burlington, New Jersey
today to see their children.
So he has cancelled this evening’s theatre engagement.

STANTON
Secret service agents and others
have informed me of threats and conspiracies,
and I urged Grant not to go to the theatre
and to persuade you not to go.

LINCOLN
Mrs. Lincoln really wants to see this play,
and the war is over.

STANTON
You must take a competent guard with you.

LINCOLN
Stanton, do you know that
Eckert can break a poker over his arm?

STANTON
No; why do you ask such a question?

LINCOLN
Well, I have seen Eckert break five pokers,
one after the other, over his arm,
and I am thinking he would be the kind of man
to go with me this evening.
May I take him?

STANTON
I have important work for him this evening
and cannot spare him.

LINCOLN
Well, I will ask the Major myself,
and he can do your work tomorrow.

INT. WAR DEPARTMENT CIPHER ROOM – AFTERNOON

Lincoln in the cipher room is talking with MAJOR ECKERT.

LINCOLN
Now Major Eckert, come along.
You can do Stanton’s work tomorrow.
Mrs. Lincoln and I want you with us.

ECKERT
Thank you for the invitation,
but the work this evening cannot be put off.

LINCOLN
Very well, I shall take Major Rathbone along.
Stanton insists upon having someone to protect me;
but I should much rather have you, Major,
since I know you can break a poker over your arm.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – AFTERNOON

Lincoln and Crook are walking back toward the White House.

CROOK
I am glad those drunks are gone.

LINCOLN
I am happy today,
but I have my doubts about that theatre party tonight.
It has been advertised that we will be there,
and I cannot disappoint the people.
Otherwise I would not go. (Pause)
I feel obliged to go, but I do not want to go.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

Lincoln and his wife Mary come out of the White House. He studies the sky as he buttons his coat. The coachman FRANK BURNS helps Mary into the barouche carriage which has seats facing each other. Then Lincoln climbs in and sits facing her. Burns is looking at Lincoln who nods, and Burns starts out of the gravel driveway. As soon as they begin to move, TWO CAVALRYMEN fall in behind the coach.

EXT. WASHINGTON STREETS – LATE AFTERNOON

The carriage trots along G Street. As some citizens on the sidewalks cheer them, Lincoln raises his silk hat. The carriage continues to move fairly quickly as it turns on to New Jersey Avenue.

MARY
My dear husband,
you almost startle me with your great cheerfulness.

LINCOLN
And well may I feel so.
I consider that this day the war was come to a close.

He pats her hand, and she smiles at him.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
We must both be cheerful in the future.
Between the war and the loss of our darling Willie,
we have both been very miserable.

This mention depresses her, and they ride in silence for a while.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
I am eager to get on with reconstructing the South
and to reach the completion of my term of office.

MARY
Oh, yes, let’s talk about that.
What would you like to do then?

LINCOLN
Perhaps a trip to Europe with our sons would be good.
I would like that.
We have laid by some money,
and during this term we will try and save up more.
I will have enough to support us.
We could return to Springfield, Illinois,
and I could resume my law practice.
I will do enough to help give us a livelihood.
Maybe someday we could buy a prairie farm
on the banks of the Sangamon.
I have never felt so happy in my life.

MARY
But don’t you remember feeling like that
just before our little boy died?

He does not answer that. They have arrived at the Navy Yard, and he gets out of the carriage.

LINCOLN
I need to stretch my legs.
I think I’ll walk over to the monitor Mantauk.

Lincoln walks over and boards the deck of the ironclad ship.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

The Lincolns return in the carriage on the driveway. Lincoln helps Mary get out of the carriage, and they walk toward the front door.

MARY
We must have supper earlier tonight.

INT. WHITE HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

As Lincoln enters, he sees Ohio Congressman SAMUEL SHELLABARGER waiting.

SHELLABARGER
Mr. President, one of my friends would like to be
appointed to the staff of the United States Army.

LINCOLN
That reminds me of when I was a young man in Illinois.
A woman in the neighborhood made shirts.
An Irishman went to her and ordered
a white shirt for some special function.
The woman made it and laundered it
and sent it to her customer.
When he got it,
the Irishman found the shirt had been starched
all the way around instead of only in the collar,
and he returned it with the remark that
he didn’t want a shirt that was all collar.
The trouble with you, Shellabarger, is that
you want the army all staff and no army.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – LATE AFTERNOON

Booth is walking his mare and turns on to 14th Street. He has been waving to friends. When he sees the actor JOHN MATTHEWS, he stops and reaches down to shake his hand. Booth dismounts, and they chat.

BOOTH
How is your acting career going?

MATTHEWS
Very well. The theatre is very lively now.

BOOTH
I am sorry I called you a coward
when you declined to join our plot.
Will you do me a favor?
Will you deliver a letter for me tomorrow?

Booth takes the letter to the National Intelligencer out of his pocket and hands it to Matthews who looks at the envelope.

MATTHEWS
Certainly. I could do it right away if that will help.

BOOTH
Oh no, not now! I could do that myself.
This has news for the National Intelligencer
and must not be delivered until tomorrow,
preferably just before noon.

MATTHEWS
What is so important about this?

Booth looks across Pennsylvania Avenue at some bedraggled Confederate veterans.

BOOTH
Who are those men?

MATTHEWS
They look like officers of Lee’s army.

Booth mounts his horse.

BOOTH
Good God! Matthews, I have no country left.

Booth quickly rides off while Matthews puts the letter in his pocket. Booth gallops up to 15th Street and then starts back slowly to check out a carriage followed by TWO CAVALRYMEN. As he rides by, he sees two women, one of whom is MRS. GRANT, and then he sees General Grant up front with the coach-driver. Booth reigns in his horse, turns, and starts back at a walk so that he can stare at Grant and the ladies. As he goes by the cavalrymen, he questions them.

BOOTH
Wasn’t that Grant?

The FIRST CAVALRYMAN nods.

BOOTH (Cont’d.)
I thought he was going to be at Ford’s tonight.

FIRST CAVALRYMAN
Somebody said he’s going to Jersey.

Dissolve to:

Booth is riding on a side street, sees George Atzerodt, dismounts, and speaks quietly to him.

BOOTH
Grant has just left town,
and that will make it easier to eliminate Lincoln.
Your attack on the Vice President
must be exactly at 10:15 tonight.
Soon after that we will all meet
on the far side of the Navy Yard bridge.

Atzerodt is drunk and brash.

ATZERODT
Listen to me.
I enlisted for capture, not for murder.

BOOTH
You are a sniveling coward!

ATZERODT
I have spent the day investigating the Vice President,
and I have learned that Mr. Johnson is a brave man.

BOOTH
Look, you’ve gone too far already,
and you might as well go all the way.

ATZERODT
Oh, I am in trouble, and I will never be shut of it.

Booth slaps him on the back.

BOOTH
Good luck to you.

Booth gets on his horse and rides off. Atzerodt talks to himself.

ATZERODT
I think I need another drink.

EXT. STREET AND ALLEY BEHIND FORD’S THEATRE – DUSK

Booth arrives on his horse to an old billboard gate and slowly guides his horse through the gate to the alley. Black children are playing by their shanties. At the stable he calls out.

BOOTH
Ned!

NED SPANGLER and JAMES MADDOX come out of the theatre, and Booth speaks to Spangler.

BOOTH
Stable my mare.
She needs a strong halter,
or she’ll shred them and run away.

SPANGLER
I’ll get Ritterspaugh.
No one else is around except the ticket seller out front.

BOOTH
I will buy everyone a drink except the ticket seller.

They go through the south alley to a tavern where Booth buys a bottle a whiskey for them to share.

BOOTH (Cont’d.)
A bottle of whisky for my friends.
Drink up, gentlemen. I may see you tonight.

Booth walks through the alley and enters the back of the theatre.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – DUSK

Backstage Booth picks up a pine board that was holding a music stand. A few gas lamps are burning over the stage. He goes on the stage and sees the American flags that decorate the Presidential box. Attached to them is a portrait of George Washington. He jumps from the stage to the orchestra floor, goes up stairs, and walks down the aisle to the white door of the State Box where there is a cane chair. He opens the door and goes in. He lights a match to examine the door and the rear wall of Box 7. Then he uses a pen knife to alter the board and fits it so that it blocks the door from being opened from the outside. He removes the board and hides it in a dark corner. He studies the large box which no longer has the partition. There are sofas, chairs, and the President’s rocker at the rear. He tries both doors which work because the locks are broken. He stands between the rocker and Mary’s chair and looks at the stage 11-feet below. He goes into the corridor and strikes another match. He takes a gimlet out of his jacket pocket and uses it to drill a hole in the door through which he can see the upper portion of the rocker. He enlarges the hole so that he can see above the rocker too. He cleans up the shavings from his work. Booth goes back down the stairs and on to the stage and out the back.

EXT. STREET AND ALLEY BEHIND FORD’S THEATRE – DUSK

Booth comes out of the theatre, gets on his mare, and this time he goes the other way in the alley to 9th Street where there is no gate.

INT. BOOTH’S ROOM AT THE NATIONAL HOTEL – LATE AFTERNOON
Booth is preparing his evening clothes and other items. He puts out calf boots, new spurs, a black riding suit, and a black hat. He gathers a pocket compass, a gold timepiece, a brass derringer, the gimlet, and a long sheath knife to take with him.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – EVENING

Lincoln is visiting with his Illinois friends, Governor DICK OGLESBY and US Senator DICK YATES. A White House SERVANT comes in and speaks to Lincoln.

SERVANT
Mr. President, dinner is early tonight
because of your theatre engagement.

LINCOLN
Thank you; I will be there soon.

He turns back to his guests.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
Let me read to you something from Petroleum V. Nasby.

“I survived the defeat of McClellan
who was truly the nation’s hope and pride
likewise because I felt assured that
the reign of the gorilla Lincoln would be a short one;
that in a few months at furthest
General Lee would capture Washington, depose the ape,
and set up there a constitutional government
based upon the great and immutable truth
that a white man is better than a nigger.
The Confederates had concentrated and lost their capital.
Lincoln rides into Richmond!
An Illinois rail-splitter, a buffoon, an ape, a gorilla,
a smutty joker, sets himself down
in President Davis’s chair and writes dispatches.
This ends the chapter.
The Confederacy has at last concentrated its last concentrate.
It’s dead. It’s gathered up its feet,
said its last words, and deceased.
Lincoln will serve his term out—
the tax on whisky won’t be repealed—
our leaders will die of chagrin and delirium tremens
and inability to live so long out of office,
and the sheep will be scattered.
Farewell, vain world.”

The White House Servant returns.

WHITE HOUSE SERVANT
Please, Mr. President, dinner is being served.
You must come at once.

LINCOLN
You must excuse me, gentleman.

Lincoln stands up and follows the servant.

INT. WHITE HOUSE DINING ROOM – EVENING

Lincoln is dining with Mary, Tad, and Robert.

ROBERT
Some of my friends are visiting me tonight.
I don’t think I’ll use those tickets to Grover’s Theatre.

MARY
I have invited Clara Harris and Major Rathbone
to accompany us to the theatre.
She is the daughter of the New York Senator,
and they are engaged to be married.
We can pick them up on the way
at the Harris home on H Street.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – 7 P.M.

The door is open, and Crook is sitting outside in the hall. JOHN F. PARKER is strolling toward him.

CROOK
Parker, you are three hours late.
Don’t you know that your shift started at 4?
I have been working since 8 a.m.

PARKER
I apologize, Crook.

CROOK
The President is going to the theatre tonight.
You will go with him. Are you armed?

PARKER
Yes, sir.

CROOK
Grant is not going to the theatre.
They are taking a young couple.
There will not be room for you in the carriage.
You should leave fifteen minutes before the President
to wait at Ford’s Theatre for them.

Crook stands up and goes into the office, and Parker takes the seat in the hall.

CROOK
Good night, Mr. President.

LINCOLN
Good-bye, Crook.

Crook is surprised by the farewell because Lincoln usually says, “Good night.” He looks at Lincoln, sensing something is different and then leaves the office.

INT. BOOTH’S HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Booth loads his derringer with a large lead ball and a percussion cap. He checks the sheathed knife under his waistband. He takes a false beard from a trunk and attaches it to his face. He puts on a wig and a plaid muffler, and he uses a make-up pencil while looking in a mirror. He lays down to rest as his feet with his boots and spurs hang over the edge of the bed.

Dissolve to:

Booth looks at his watch at 7:45. He gets off the bed and puts two large revolvers in his bag.

INT. WHITE HOUSE ENTRY-ROOM – NIGHT

Parker approaches the front door and greets his friend TOM PENDEL.

PARKER
Hello, Tom. I am guarding the President tonight.

PENDEL
John, are you prepared?

PARKER
For what?

The second doorman, ALFONSO DUNN, joins the conversation.

DUNN
Oh, Tommy, there is no danger.

PENDEL
Dunn, you don’t know what might happen.
Parker, you start down to the theatre now
and be ready for the President when he reaches there.
And you see him safe inside.

Pendel opens the door for Parker who goes out.

EXT. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE – NIGHT

Booth is riding his mare and can see the lighted Capitol that is completed.

INT. PRESIDENT’S OFFICE – EVENING

Lincoln is conversing with his friends NOAH BROOKS and House Speaker Colfax.

LINCOLN
Mr. Speaker, will you join us at Ford’s Theatre tonight?

COLFAX
Oh, I have too many commitments.
I am leaving for California soon.

LINCOLN
How I would rejoice to make that trip!
But public duties chain me down here,
and I can only envy you its pleasures.
Tell those in the mountain regions
that their gold and silver mines will count
in the coming peace and prosperity.
The reconstruction work is important
so that we can reunite our country again.
Grant thinks that we can reduce the cost
of the army establishment at least a half million a day,
which, with the reduction of expenditures of the Navy,
will soon bring down our national debt
to something like decent proportions,
and bring our national paper up to a par,
or nearly so with gold.

COLFAX
We were all uneasy when you went to Richmond
taking risks among the tumult there.

LINCOLN (Smiling)
Why, if anyone else had been President
and gone to Richmond, I would have been alarmed too;
but I was not scared about myself a bit.

The servant comes in again and speaks to Lincoln.

SERVANT
Mr. President, you will be late for the play.
It is already eight o’clock.
Congressman Ashmun is waiting for you downstairs.

LINCOLN
I suppose it is time to go, Colfax,
though I would rather stay.
I cannot disappoint the people.

INT. WHITE HOUSE ENTRY-ROOM – EVENING

GEORGE ASHMUN is waiting hat in hand near the front door and sees Lincoln approaching. He walks toward him.

ASHMUN
Mr. President, I need to speak to you.
We need a cotton commissioner to examine the claims.

LINCOLN
I have done with “commissions.”
I believe they are contrivances to cheat the Government
out of every pound of cotton they can lay their hands on.

ASHMUN
I hope the President is not imputing my personal honor.

LINCOLN
You did not understand me, Ashmun.
I did not mean what you inferred.
I take it all back.

Lincoln quickly takes a card from his pocket and writes on it:

April 14, 1865
Allow Mr. Ashmun
& friend to come in
at 9 A.M tomor-
row—
A. Lincoln

Lincoln hands the card to Ashmun who reads it.

ASHMUN
Thank you, sir.
I’ll see you tomorrow then.

Ashmun goes out the door. Colfax and Brooks have caught up with Lincoln who speaks to Colfax.

LINCOLN
I gave the gavel of the Confederate Congress at Richmond
to Senator Sumner who is going to
hand it to War Secretary Stanton.
I insisted then that he give it to you, Colfax.
You tell him for me to hand it over.

COLFAX
I will. We must let you go to the play now.

LINCOLN
I am still inclined to give up the whole thing.

Mary Lincoln is dressed up, joins them, and hurries to the door.

MARY
We are late. We must go now.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE PORTICO – EVENING

Mary and Lincoln come out the front door followed by Colfax. The footman FORBES helps Mary as she and Lincoln get into the closed coach. Lincoln signals Burns, and the coach starts out.

EXT. THE HARRIS HOME ON H STREET – NIGHT

The coach stops in front of the house, and Forbes gets down and goes to ring the bell. MISS CLARA HARRIS and HENRY RATHBONE come out and get in the coach, facing the Lincolns and the rear of the coach.

EXT. FRONT OF FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

A few people are in line at the box office as a POLICEMAN prevents on-lookers from gathering near the theatre. When the President’s coach stops by a wooden ramp, the two cavalrymen turn back and ride off. Forbes helps the ladies down the ramp to protect their dresses. Parker is there and leads the party into the theatre. Forbes follows the two couples carrying Lincoln’s shawl.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

The ticket-taker JOHN BUCKINGHAM bows to the Presidential party, and an USHER leads them up the stairs. On the stage LAURA KEENE is playing Florence Trenchard in a scene with Lord Dundreary.

KEENE
Good gracious! You have almost a game of draughts.

Lord Dundreary laughs.

KEENE
What is the matter?

LORD DUNDREARY
That wath a joke, that wath.

PATRONS in the dress circle stand up to applaud the President. Keene steps forward and also claps her hands as the entire audience rises. Lincoln leads his party down the side aisle to the white door and into the State Box.

KEENE
The draft has been suspended.

This line stimulates loud applause that lasts a long time.

DUNDREARY
I can’t see the joke.

KEENE
Anybody can see that.

Professor WITHERS directs his band to play “Hail to the Chief.” Rathbone and Harris sit down with Mary next and Lincoln in his rocker. When he sits in his rocker, he cannot be seen by most of the audience. Forbes sits behind Lincoln and leans over to whisper to him.

FORBES
Do you want your shawl, sir?

LINCOLN
Not now.

Forbes puts the shawl where he was sitting and goes out. Parker is sitting outside the corridor, and he occasionally leaves his seat to see the stage.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Parker is sitting where he can see the play. He gets bored and leaves the theatre.

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Parker comes out and finds Burns dozing off in the carriage.

PARKER
Would you like a little ale?

Burns wakes up and follows Parker. They head toward Taltavul’s Star Saloon, and Forbes comes out of the theatre and joins them.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Lincoln sees that Rathbone is holding the hand of Miss Harris. Lincoln reaches for Mary’s hand and holds it at the side of his rocker. After a while Mary whispers to him.

MARY
What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?

LINCOLN
Why, she won’t think anything about it.

INT. LINCOLN’S OFFICE – NIGHT

John Hay and other STAFF are sitting at the table talking with National Republican editor S. P. HANSCOM.

HANSCOM
I did not know that the President was going to Ford’s Theatre
or that Grant has left town.
Those things are certainly news I can write about.
What else has happened today?

HAY
There was a long cabinet meeting about Reconstruction,
but I was not there and cannot give you any details.

A SERGEANT from the War Department comes in through the open door with a telegram in an envelope which he hands to Hay.

SERGEANT
This telegraph message just came
to the War Office for the President.

HAY
This could be about Johnston’s surrender to Sherman.
If it is, the President would want to know about it;
but he is at Ford’s Theatre.
I will send a messenger to him.

HANSCOM
I will be walking that way on 10th Street
and would be glad to deliver it to him.

HAY
Would you take it right now?

HANSCOM
Sure.

Hay hands the envelope to Hanscom who leaves the room.

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Hanscom approaches and sees many people outside during an intermission. He notices that no one is in the President’s coach, and mixing with the people he enters the theatre.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Hanscom goes up the stairs to the dress circle. He sees two US Army OFFICERS sitting at the end of Row D.

HANSCOM
I have a message for the President.

One of the officers points to the white door. Hanscom sees the valet Forbes sitting near the door and speaks to him.

FORBES
Why are you here?

HANSCOM
I have an important message for the President.

Forbes points to the door.

FORBES
You may go in.

As Hanscom enters the State Box, Miss Harris turns around in alarm, but Lincoln recognizes Hanscom and accepts the envelope.

HANSCOM
Mr. President, this telegram just came in for you
while I was at the White House.

LINCOLN
Thank you for bringing it to me.

Lincoln opens the envelope and reads the message as Hanscom departs.

LINCOLN (Cont’d.)
General Weitzel has invited two Confederate officials to visit me,
and he wants a permit for them.
I can decide about that tomorrow morning.

EXT. BEHIND FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Booth arrives on the mare and stops by the light at the stage door. He dismounts and shouts.

BOOTH
Spangler!

Laughter is heard coming from the theatre. The black JOHN MILES is high in the flies, and hearing Booth, he looks out the window and sees him by his horse. Booth calls again.

BOOTH (Cont’d.)
Spangler! Spangler, come out here!

Spangler comes out the back door to Booth.      

SPANGLER
Why are you calling me?

BOOTH
I need you to hold my horse.

SPANGLER
I am shifting the scenes and can’t do that.

BOOTH
Then send someone else out here.

Spangler goes back in the theatre, and a moment later he comes out with Johnny Peanut.

BOOTH (Cont’d.)
I will pay you to hold my horse here.

Peanut takes the reins and sits on the stone step as Booth and Spangler go in the theatre.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE BACKSTAGE – NIGHT

Booth removes his gloves as he smiles at the ACTORS. He whispers to one of them.

BOOTH
May I cross to the other side?

The actor shakes his head. Booth tries to see Lincoln in the box, but the State Box is too dark to see.

INT. THE STATE BOX AT FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Lincoln speaks quietly to Mary.

LINCOLN
I feel a chill.

MARY
I can get the shawl that Forbes brought.

LINCOLN
That’s all right; just watch the play.

He stands up and puts on his black coat. Then he sits back down on his rocker.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE BACKSTAGE – NIGHT

Booth speaks to the utility man, J. L. DEBONAY.

BOOTH
Can I cross behind the set now?

DEBONAY
Not now, Mr. Booth; the dairy scene is on.
You could use the tunnel under the stage.

Debonay points to the tunnel entrance, and Booth goes into the tunnel and to the other side of the stage. He comes out and sees the house is full. He goes out to the alley on 10th Street.

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Booth walks around to the front of the theatre and looks at the playbills on upcoming plays. He walks toward Taltavul’s Star Saloon.

INT. TALTAVUL’S STAR SALOON – NIGHT

Booth comes in and goes up to the bar. Coachman Burns, valet Forbes, and the guard Parker are also there drinking.

BOOTH
Whiskey and water.

The BARTENDER places a bottle of whiskey and a pitcher of water on the bar, and Booth pours himself a drink. The DRUNK MAN next to him recognizes the actor and speaks to him.

DRUNK MAN
Mr. John Wilkes Booth,
you’ll never be the actor your father was.

BOOTH (Smiling)
When I leave the stage,
I will be the most famous man in America.

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE ON 10TH STREET – NIGHT

Atzerodt rides his horse by Ford’s Theatre and sees some off-duty soldiers and a few civilians.

INT. KIRKWOOD HOUSE BAR – NIGHT

Atzerodt is drinking at the bar and notices that the clock is nearing ten.

EXT. TALVUL’S STAR SALOON NEAR FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Booth is conversing with the theatre costumer LEWIS CARLAND and stage carpenter Gifford. The singer HESS joins them.

HESS
What time is it?

CARLAND
I think it’s about ten.

Police Captain WILLIAM WILLIAMS sees Booth and approaches him.

WILLIAMS
Oh, Booth, I am glad to see my favorite actor.
Let me buy you a drink.

Booth looks at his watch.

BOOTH
No, thank you.
Keene will be on stage in a minute,
and I promised that I would take a look at her.

Booth walks back to the theatre entrance, and the ticket-taker Buckingham holds out his hand. Booth pretends to be shocked.

BOOTH
You do not want a ticket from me, do you?

BUCKINGHAM (Laughing)
Go on in, courtesy of the house.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

As he walks through the lobby, Booth notices the clock is at 10:07. He goes up the stairs to the dress circle. He sees that no one is guarding the white door. As he approaches the door and goes in, lines from the play can be heard more faintly.

MRS. MOUNTCHESSINGTON (Voice Over)
No heir to the fortune, Mr. Trenchard?

ASA TRENCHARD (V. O.)
Oh, no.

AUGUSTA (V. O.)
What! No fortune!

ASA TRENCHARD (V. O.)
Nary a red.
It all comes from their barking up the wrong tree
about the old man’s property.

Booth quietly in the dark finds the pine board in the corner and places it in the niche he made so that it bolts the door from being opened from the outside. A small beam of light comes through the hole he made in the door to Box 7.

MRS. MOUNTCHESSINGTON (V. O.)
Augusta, to your room!

AUGUSTA (V. O.)
Yes, ma. The nasty beast!

MRS. MOUNTCHESSINGTON (V. O.)
I am aware, Mr. Trenchard,
that you are not used to the manners of good society.

Booth looks through the tiny hole and sees the rocker and above it a silhouette of Lincoln’s head.

MR. TRENCHARD
Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? (V. O.)

Booth quietly turns the doorknob and pushes it forward into the box. He enters the box and moves along the wall a few feet.

MR. TRENCHARD (Cont’d.)
Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out,
old gal—you sockdologizing old man trap!

Booth points his derringer at the back of Lincoln’s head between his left ear and his spine and squeezes the trigger during the laughter. Lincoln’s head droops to the left, and his rocker stops moving. Mary, Clara Harris, and Rathbone are laughing until they see Booth move between Lincoln and Mary. He has dropped the small gun and pulled out his knife. Rathbone sees the smoke and Booth. He grabs Booth’s left hand, and Booth slashes Rathbone’s arm with the knife. The actor Harry Hawk is alone on stage and looks at the State Box. Booth climbs on to the balustrade of the box and jumps down to the stage; but the spur on his right foot catches on the bunting and causes him to land only on the other leg which breaks near the ankle. Booth faces the audience and shouts:

BOOTH
Sic semper tyrannis!
The South is avenged!

Then he turns and hobbles backstage.

MARY (Screaming)
Oh, my God! Help!

RATHBONE (Shouting)
Stop that man!

Laura Keene comes out on the stage. Backstage Booth threatens an actor with his knife as he passes by.

CLARA HARRIS
Water!

MAJOR JOSEPH P. STEWARD is in the first row, gets up, and climbs on the stage, shouting:

STEWARD
Stop that man!

He runs backstage.

EXT. BEHIND FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Booth comes out limping badly. Peanut is lying on the stone step and gets up holding the bridle. Booth has trouble mounting his horse until he gets his right foot in the stirrup. Peanut holds out his hand for money, and Booth kicks him with his right foot. Stewart comes out yelling:

STEWARD
Stop! Stop!

Booth spurs the horse and rides down the alley.

PEANUTS
He kicked me. He kicked me.

INT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

Backstage JACOB RITTERSPAUGH grabs Spangler by the shoulders and says to him:

RITTERSPAUGH
That was Booth! I swear it was Booth!

Spangler hits Ritterspaugh in the face.

SPANGLER
Be quiet! What do you know about it?

The audience is confused by the chaos. Rathbone points toward the wings and shouts:

RATHBONE
A surgeon! We need a surgeon!

Mary Lincoln screams again, causing many in the audience to stand up and look toward the State Box. Moaning she grabs Lincoln’s arms to keep him from falling out of the rocker, and she tries to wake him.

MARY
Help!
My dear husband!
I cannot rouse him.

A MAN IN THE ORCHESTRA stands up and shouts.

MAN IN THE ORCHESTRA
For God’s sake, what is it? What happened?

CLARA HARRIS
The President is shot!
Water, someone get some water!
Does anyone have stimulants?

Harry Hawk is standing in the middle of the stage weeping. Some men are trying to force open the door into the State Box. Rathbone is bleeding and trying to open the door by removing the board blocking it. He shouts to the men who are pushing on the other side of the door:

RATHBONE
Stop pushing on the door!

He finally removes the board that is now bloody, and he opens the door.

RATHBONE (Cont’d.)
We need a doctor.
Please do not come in unless you are a doctor.

Young DR. CHARLES LEALE tries to get through the men by the door. Someone turns up the gas, and suddenly the lights become much brighter.

DR. LEALE
I am a surgeon. Let me by.

RATHBONE
I am bleeding to death.

Dr. Leale sees the blood. He lifts Rathbone’s chin to look into his eyes.

CLARA HARRIS
Please help the President!
I think he was shot.

Dr. Leale lifts Mary Lincoln’s head off Lincoln’s chest, and he begins examining Lincoln.

MARY
O, Doctor! Is he dead? Can he recover?
Will you take charge of him?
Oh, my dear husband!

DR. LEALE
I will do what I can.

He guides her away and motions to the men to keep her away. She is taken to the sofa in Box 8, and Clara Harris sits next to her and holds her hand. Dr. Leale is studying Lincoln and gives orders.

DR. LEALE (Cont’d.)
Get a lamp.
Lock that door back there
and admit no one except doctors.
Someone hold matches until the lamp gets here.

He lifts Lincoln’s head and lets it fall. He sees some soldiers and speaks to them.

DR. LEALE (Cont’d.)
You men, come here.
Get him out of the chair and put him on the floor.

They do so, and then stand back. Dr. Leale is looking for a knife wound. After not finding one, he looks at the back of Lincoln’s head, and his hand discovers a bloody hole. While men are holding matches in a circle, he unbuttons Lincoln’s coat and vest, removes his gold watch chain, and tries to unbutton the collar. He is having difficulty.

DR. LEALE (Cont’d.)
Does anyone have a pocket knife?

WILLIAM F. RENT hands him one, and Dr. Leale uses it to cut the shirt open from the collar and down the front. He opens Lincoln’s eyes to examine them and then listens to his chest. When his fingers find the hole in the head again, he removes some clotting. This allows Lincoln to breathe weakly.

DR. LEALE (Cont’d.)
He is breathing, and he has a weak pulse.

Some men on the stage lift up DR. CHARLES TAFT so that he can get over the balustrade into the State Box.

TAFT
I am Dr. Charles Taft

Dr. Leale lifts Lincoln’s upper body into a sitting position.

DR. LEALE
If you can hold him up, I will probe his head wound.
I cannot find the lead ball.

They lower his head to the floor. Dr. Leale straddles his body so that he can raise and lower Lincoln’s long arms to stimulate his breathing. He puts two fingers in Lincoln’s mouth to free the secretions in his larynx. DR. ALBERT F. A. KING arrives.

DR. KING
I am Dr. Albert King.

DR. LEALE
If you each manipulate an arm,
I will try to stimulate his heart by massaging his belly.

They do this as soldiers clear people out of the State Box. Dr. Leale gives Lincoln mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. Lincoln’s breathing becomes louder like he is snoring.

MARY
How is he?
Will he live?

DR. LEALE
His wound is mortal.
It is impossible for him to recover.
Can he be removed to somewhere nearby?

DR. KING
Would it be possible to carry him to the White House?

DR. LEALE
No, his wound is mortal.
He would die before he got there.

DR. TAFT
Send an officer to find a place nearby,
a suitable place for President Lincoln.
We need four soldiers to carry his body.
I will treat this man’s arm.

Dr. Taft has noticed Rathbone’s bloody arm and attends to him. Four soldiers arrive and lift up the body. Dr. King holds one shoulder. Dr. Leale has Lincoln’s head in his hands as they take him out feet first.

DR. LEALE
Guards, clear the passage.
Clear the passage!

EXT. FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

A large crowd has gathered outside waiting to find out what has happened. As six soldiers carry the President’s body out followed by the doctors, an ONLOOKER shouts:

ONLOOKER
For God’s sake, get him to the White House?

DR. LEALE
He would die on the way.
Clear the street so that we can cross.

A CAPTAIN swings his sword to make the crowd clear a space to cross 10th Street.

CAPTAIN
Get out of the street! Out of the way!

The six soldiers carry the body across the street. Other soldiers cannot rouse anyone at the first house. Then the tailor WILLIAM PETERSON with a lighted candle comes out of the next house and motions to them. They take the body into that house.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE – NIGHT

Following Peterson the six soldiers carry the President’s body through the two parlors to a small bedroom and lay him on the bed. Lincoln’s long legs do not fit until they angle his body diagonally.

DR. LEALE
Move the bed away from the wall
so that we can get around it.
And open the window.

Two of the soldiers move the bed about five feet from the wall so that it is in the center of the room. Another soldier opens the window. Private WILLIAM T. CLARK comes in.

CLARK
I was renting this room.
I will just remove my gear.

Clark grabs a duffel bag and goes out.

DR. LEALE
Have someone boil some water
and bring some heated blankets.
Also bring some large mustard plasters.

Dr. Leale takes Lincoln’s pulse and listens to his labored breathing. He and Dr. Taft begin undressing Lincoln so that they can examine his entire body. A soldier comes in with mustard plasters.

DR. TAFT
What are you finding?

DR. LEALE
His pulse is 44.
Neither eye is sensitive to light, and his right eye is dilated.

Mary comes into the room and talks to anyone who will listen.

MARY
Doctors, thank you for caring for him.
Send for our son Robert at the White House,
for Surgeon General Barnes
and the President’s physician, Dr. Robert K. Stone.
And his pastor, Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, should be here.
Also Secretary of War Stanton should be alerted.

Soldiers leave to carry out her orders.

DR. LEALE
No one is to be allowed in this room except doctors.
I’m sorry, but that includes you too, Mrs. Lincoln.

MARY
Very well, I will be in the next room.
Please keep me informed.

DR. LEALE
I will do that.

She leaves the room.

EXT. THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Super:

Seward Residence
10:15 P.M.

David Herold is sitting on his horse and holding the rein of the other horse as Lewis Powell with a bottle in his hand goes up to the front door and raps loudly with the knocker. After a pause he raps again. The young Negro WILLIAM BELL in a white coat answers the door.

POWELL
I have medicine for Secretary Seward from Dr. Verdi.

Bell reaches for it, but Powell does not give it to him.

BELL
Give it to me.

POWELL
I must deliver it personally.

BELL
Sir, I have strict orders and cannot let you go upstairs.

POWELL
You’re talking to a white man.
This medicine is for your master,
and by God I am going to give it to him.

BELL
But, sir—

POWELL
Out of my way, nigger. I am going up.

Powell pushes him out of the way and enters the building

INT. THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Powell has entered the reception hall and goes up the stairs followed by Bell.

BELL
Sir, I am sorry that I talked rough to you.

POWELL
That’s all right.

INT. FREDERICK SEWARD’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Frederick Seward is in bed with his WIFE, reacts to the noise, and starts to get up.

FREDERICK
What’s going on?

He puts on a dressing gown and leaves the bedroom.

INT. SECOND FLOOR OF THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Frederick sees Powell with Bell behind him.

FREDERICK
What is all this commotion about?
Please be quiet; my father is resting.

POWELL (Whispering)
I have a prescription from Dr. Verdi,
and this boy is trying to stop me from delivering it.

FREDERICK
Give me the medicine and the directions,
and I will see that my father gets it.

He holds out his hand, but Powell shakes his head.

POWELL
The doctor told me twice
to give it only to the Secretary of State.
Just let me hand him the bottle, and I will leave.

FREDERICK
I will see if my father is asleep.

Frederick walks over to his father’s room and looks in. Then he walks back toward Powell.

FREDERICK (Cont’d.)
He is sleeping, and you can’t go in.
Give it to me.
I will take responsibility for refusing to let you see him.
You can tell that to the doctor.
I am Mr. Seward’s son and am in charge here.

POWELL
Very well, sir. I will go.

Powell hands the bottle to Frederick and turns toward the stairs, but then he pulls out a pistol, turns again, points it at Frederick, and pulls the trigger, but it misfires. Powell then clubs Frederick with the pistol before he can raise his hand. Frederick falls to the floor, and Powell beats him with the butt of the pistol several times on his head and neck while Bell runs down the stairs screaming.

BELL
Murder! Murder!

EXT. THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Bell comes out running into the street and shouting.

BELL
Murder! Murder! Murder!

Herold reacts to this by dismounting and tying Powell’s horse to a tree. Then he mounts his horse and rides off.

INT. SECOND FLOOR OF THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Powell sees that his pistol is broken and throws it at Frederick. He draws his knife and pushes on the door of the bedroom of WILLIAM SEWARD. Inside the male nurse SERGEANT ROBINSON is pushing back. Powell uses his great weight to knock the door down, falling inside the dark room. He slashes at Robinson who is wounded and screams. Powell turns to the figure under the covers and stabs his body several times. Robinson grabs Powell’s arm from behind, and Powell turns to fight him. While they are fighting, William Seward rolls his body off the bed and hides underneath it. Powell finally frees himself from Robinson and goes out yelling.

POWELL
I’m mad! I’m mad!

In the hallway Powell sees Frederick’s sister FANNY SEWARD in her nightdress. She screams.

FANNY SEWARD
Help!

The State Department messenger, EMERICK HANSELL walks toward Powell who stabs him in the chest. He pushes Fanny Seward to the floor and goes down the stairs.

EXT. THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

Powell comes out of the building, gets on his horse, and rides toward H Street where he walks his horse. Bells sees him and shouts.

BELL
Murder!

SOLDIERS come from Augur’s sentry box and go into the Old Clubhouse.

INT. SECOND FLOOR OF THE OLD CLUBHOUSE – NIGHT

The soldiers find Frederick unconscious at the top of the stairs. Hansell is bleeding profusely and gagging on his own blood. They find Robinson wounded, and he shows them the seriously wounded William Seward who is retrieved from under the bed. MAJOR AUGUSTUS SEWARD takes charge and orders the soldiers.

AUGUSTUS SEWARD
Send for physicians to treat the wounded,
and notify War Secretary Stanton immediately.

Several soldiers go out talking among themselves.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Mary Lincoln is sitting with Clara Harris, Laura Keene, other women, and Rev. DR. GURLEY.

MARY
How is Major Rathbone?

CLARA HARRIS
He fainted from loss of blood and has been taken home.

MARY
I wish we could bring Tad.
He loves him so; he would speak to Tad.

DR. ROBERT STONE, Surgeon General JOSEPH K. BARNES, and his assistant, DR. CHARLES H. CRANE arrive and greet Mrs. Lincoln.

DR. STONE
Mrs. Lincoln, we are here to serve the President.

MARY
Thank you for coming at this hour.
He needs all the help he can get.

The doctors go into the bedroom.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

The doctors Stone, Barnes, and Crane come in.

STONE
I am the President’s personal physician.
Crane, bring in a basin of warm water.

Crane goes out.

Dissolve to:

Crane returns with a basin of water. Stone removes his gloves and washes his hands. Then he sits on the bed, lifts Lincoln’s head and sticks his little finger in the bullet hole. After probing for a few moments, he withdraws his finger. He examines Lincoln’s bloodshot eyes and pinches his cheek.

STONE
The case is hopeless; the President will die.
There is a positive limit to the duration of his life.
He is tenacious, and he will resist;
but death will close the scene.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Robert Lincoln and John Hay enter the front parlor. Robert goes to his mother and bursts into tears. Mary embraces him.

ROBERT
Oh, Mother, how is he?

MARY
The doctors won’t let the women in there, but you go in.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Robert Lincoln comes in and sees his father.

ROBERT
I am the President’s son Robert.
Please let me stay with my father.
I will keep out of your way.

He goes to the head of the bed.

INT. KIRKWOOD HOUSE – NIGHT

Former Governor LEONARD J. FARWELL is knocking on the door to Vice President Johnson’s room.

FARWELL
Governor Johnson, I must see you.

Johnson opens the door and recognizes Gov. Farwell.

JOHNSON
Come in, Governor Farwell.

FARWELL
Someone has murdered President Lincoln.

Johnson lights a lamp.

JOHNSON
I cannot believe that.

Johnson looks at Farwell and sees how distraught he is. They embrace each other for support. Johnson opens the door and looks both ways in the hall but sees no one. He rings for a servant. They sit down. The SERVANT knocks on the door. Johnson opens the door.

JOHNSON
You must summon guards at once.

SERVANT
Yes, sir.

JOHNSON
Governor, will you go back to the theatre
and find out how the President is?

FARWELL
The lobby here is filled with people.
I also heard that Seward has been killed,
and that there may be a conspiracy to kill you too.
I will get the District of Columbia’s Provost Marshal
to come here.

JOHNSON
I should be with the President.

FARWELL
Wait a while until the excitement subsides a bit.

Farwell goes out.

INT. SALOON NEAR FORD’S THEATRE – NIGHT

John Matthews is drinking at the bar. A man rushes in with news.

MAN WITH NEWS
I just left Ford’s Theatre.
Someone killed President Lincoln there!

MATTHEWS
Do they know who did it?

MAN WITH NEWS
Some say it was some actor named Booth.

Matthews is shocked by this news and leaves immediately.

INT. HOTEL ROOM OF JOHN MATTHEWS – NIGHT

Matthews takes the letter out of his pocket, looks at what Booth wrote, and throws it on the fire in the grate.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Dr. Taft brings in a glass and speaks to Dr. Leale.

DR. TAFT
This is brandy and water,
and I would like to give some to the President.

DR. LEALE
I don’t think so. It could cause strangulation.

Dr. Taft goes out, and a few moments later he comes back in with Stone and Barnes.

DR. TAFT
The doctors Stone and Barnes agree
that it might help the patient.

DR. LEALE
I will grant your request
if you try only a very small quantity.

Dr. Taft pours about a third of a teaspoon into Lincoln’s mouth. Dr. Leale watches and does not like what he sees.

DR. LEALE (Cont’d.)
The President’s larynx is being obstructed.

Dr. Leale puts his fingers in Lincoln’s mouth to clear the obstruction, enabling Lincoln to resume breathing.

DR. TAFT
I hope we have not done harm to the patient.

DR. LEALE
I don’t think there will be any lasting damage.

DR. STONE
We should decide who is in charge of the President’s care.
I recommend Surgeon General Barnes.

DR. TAFT
I agree with that.

DR. LEALE
I can accept it,
but I would like to stay here with the President.

DR. KING
Dr. Leale was the first to arrive,
and I think he has done a remarkable job.

BARNES
I hope all of you will stay on.

DR. STONE
Then we are all in agreement.

The other doctors nod their heads.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Secretary of War Stanton and Navy Secretary Gideon Welles come in.

STANTON
Where is the President?

Some of the women point to the door of the bedroom.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Stanton and Welles come in.

STANTON
I am Secretary of War Stanton,
and this is Navy Secretary Welles.
We have learned that Secretary of State Seward
and his son Frederick
have been seriously wounded at their home.

BARNES
I must go attend to them.
I will come back here later.

Surgeon General Barnes leaves the room.

INT. BACK PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Stanton’s Assistant Dana comes in and speaks to Stanton.

DANA
Sir, the Chief Justice of the District of Columbia is here.

STANTON
Send him in.

Dana goes out and returns with Chief Justice DAVID K. CARTTER. Stanton stands up and shakes his hand.

CARTTER
How is the President?

STANTON
The doctors tell us that he is dying.
I am glad you came, Chief Justice Cartter.
I am conducting an investigation of the murders.
Secretary Seward and his son may also die.
I would like you to sit with me as I question witnesses.

CARTTER
Yes, I will, Mr. Secretary.

 They sit at a small table with a marble top.

STANTON
I have ordered the Army to seal off the city
to prevent the murderers from escaping.
They are holding several witnesses in another room,
and I think we should start questioning them now.

CHASE
I will administer the oath to each witness.

GENERAL CHRISTOPHER C. AUGUR comes in with CORPORAL TANNER who has a thick pad and two pencils.

AUGUR
Mr. Secretary, this is Corporal Tanner,
and he can take shorthand.

STANTON
Excellent! That is what we need.
Welcome, Corporal, please join us.

Cartter moves his chair so that Tanner can use the table.

Dissolve to:

Harry Hawk is testifying.

HARRY HAWK
I was alone on stage
when he jumped down from the State Box.

STANTON
Did you recognize the man?

HARRY HAWK
Yes, sir. I believe to the best of my knowledge
that it was the actor John Wilkes Booth.
Still, I am not positive because he had a beard.
He threatened me with a knife, and I ran off the stage.
I remember saying, “My God! That’s John Booth!”
In my own mind I have no doubt that it was Booth.
I could say it on my deathbed.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Mary Lincoln looks at a clock and speaks to Clara Harris and Laura Keene.

MARY
It is one o’clock in the morning.
I want to know what is going on.

She goes out the rear door.

INT. BACK PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Cartter and Tanner are sitting by the table, and Stanton is speaking to Attorney General JAMES SPEED. Mary Lincoln quietly enters the room and is not noticed.

STANTON
Attorney General Speed, I want you
to draw up a formal note to Vice President Johnson
requesting that he prepare to assume the Presidency at once.

SPEED
Yes, sir.

MARY (Screaming)
Oh, my God! Is he dead?! Is he really dead?

STANTON
No, Mrs. Lincoln, he is not dead.
Please calm down.

MARY
The doctors won’t let me see him.
Robert has been in there with him for hours.

STANTON
I will ask them to let you see him.

He walks her to the door of the front parlor and goes out with her.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

SENATOR CHARLES SUMNER is sitting by Lincoln, holding his hand, and he begins to weep.

DR. TAFT
Senator Sumner, this is the saddest death scene
I have ever seen.

Dr. Leale is sitting on the other side of Lincoln holding his other hand. Stanton comes in.

STANTON
Clean up the blood. Mrs. Lincoln is coming in again.

Dr. Leale reaches over to remove another blood clot from the head wound. As Mary comes in, he stands up and lets her take his seat. She holds Lincoln’s hand and kisses him before sitting down.

INT. BACK PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Attorney General Speed hands Stanton the notification of Lincoln’s death.

STANTON
Thank you, Mr. Attorney General.
I want every member of the cabinet to sign this.

SPEED
Yes, sir; they are all here except Mr. Seward.

Stanton turns toward his assistant Dana.

STANTON
Dana, please take down the following telegram:
“War Department April 15, 1865 1:30 A.M.
Major General Dix, New York
Last evening about 10:30 P.M. at Ford’s Theatre,
the President, while sitting in his private box
with Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris, and Major Rathbone,
was shot by an assassin.”

Stanton pauses overcome by emotion.

DANA
Is there more?

STANTON
Yes, much more!

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Mary is sitting with Clara Harris and Laura Keene, and she notices that it is 2 o’clock.

MARY
I want to see him again.
Will you go with me?

CLARA HARRIS
Yes,

KEENE
Of course.

They stand up and follow her to the door of the bedroom.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Mary comes in followed by Clara Harris and Keene. Mary leans over and rests her cheek on Lincoln’s cheek. Suddenly Lincoln expels a loud breath that frightens her so much that she screams and then collapses on the floor. Stanton rushes in and sees her on the floor. He points at Mary who has lost consciousness.

STANTON
Take that woman out, and do not let her in again.

Dr. Leale and Dr. Barnes lift up Mary and help her out of the room. They are followed by Harris and Keene. A moment later Barnes returns.

BARNES
Turn the patient toward the wall.
I am going to use a silver probe
to see if I can remove the bullet.

He pushes in the probe about two inches and then removes it. Then he uses a Nélaton probe which goes in four inches. When he pulls it out, he finds a few small fragments in the porcelain bulb on the probe.

DR. LEALE
What did you find, Dr. Barnes?

BARNES
These appear to be only bone fragments.
I don’t think we should try anymore probes.

INT. BACK PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Dana comes in and speaks to Stanton.

DANA
Vice President Johnson has come to see the President.

STANTON
Well, show him in.

Dana soon returns with Johnson.

JOHNSON
May I see the President?

Stanton nods, and Dana leads Johnson to the door of the front parlor.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Dana and Johnson walk through and go into the bedroom.

MARY
That is Vice President Johnson.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Dana leads Johnson into the room. Johnson observes the doctors and looks at Lincoln. He goes over to Robert, takes his hand, and whispers to him.

JOHNSON
Your father is a great man.

Johnson leaves the room.

INT. FRONT PARLOR IN PETERSON’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Johnson goes over to Mary and takes her hand for a moment as she looks up at him sadly. Then he leaves the room.

INT. PETERSON HOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT

Dr. Barnes touches Lincoln’s face.

BARNES
His skin is cold.

Robert Lincoln reacts by covering his face, and he sobs, leaning on the shoulder of Senator Sumner who is sitting next to him. A soldier helps Mary enter the room. She looks at Lincoln and her son Robert. Then she is helped out of the room. Lincoln is having trouble breathing, and his mouth is closed. The President’s pastor, Dr. Phineas Gurley, comes in and looks at Lincoln. He kneels down and begins to pray. Dr. Leale is watching Lincoln carefully as the President’s chest expands one last time before relaxing. Dr. Leale looks at his watch which has 7:22. Dr. Barnes opens Lincoln’s eyelids to examine his eyes. Then he pulls down the sheet and puts his ear over Lincoln’s chest. After a few moments Barnes straightens up. He takes two silver coins from his vest pocket and places them over Lincoln’s closed eyes. The doctors look at each other.

STANTON
Now he belongs to the ages.

Robert stands up and leaves the room. A moment later he returns with his mother Mary. She throws herself on Lincoln’s body and cries out:

MARY
Oh my God! I have given my husband to die!

Robert lifts her from the bed and helps her leave the room. Dr. Leale smooths Lincoln’s face and then pulls the white sheet over his head.

DR. GURLEY
Let us pray.
Our heavenly father, we ask that you
receive the soul of our President and leader
who has sacrificed his life serving our country.
Please guide us in the future. Amen.

STANTON
On his last day he was more cheerful and happy
than I have ever seen him.
He rejoiced at the near prospect of
firm and durable peace at home and abroad.
He manifested in marked degree the kindness
and humanity of his disposition
and the tender and forgiving spirit
that so eminently distinguished him.

- THE END -

Copyright © 2020 by Sanderson Beck

ABRAHAM LINCOLN:
Learning Politics and Law
In Congress and Out
Debating Douglas
Becoming President
Civil War Begins
Proclaiming Emancipation
War by Conscription
Getting Re-elected
Victory and Death

How Lincoln Could Have Prevented Civil War
Lincoln Bibliography
Lincoln Chronology

BECK index